CARACAS, Venezuela — On Thursday, aides of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado reported her detention under suspicious circumstances, although officials quickly denied these claims. This incident intensified ongoing protests aimed at preventing President Nicolás Maduro from maintaining his grip on power, marking it as a turbulent day in Caracas.
After addressing a crowd of supporters, Machado departed on a motorcycle with her security team along a key avenue in the city. Just after 3:20 p.m., her press team shared a message on social media stating that security forces had “violently intercepted” her convoy. According to her aides, Machado was detained, which sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders across Latin America and beyond, who called for her immediate release.
Shortly after these reports surfaced, a 20-second video of Machado appeared online in which she claimed she was followed after leaving a successful rally and had lost her purse. However, her aides later asserted that the video had been forced and stated that she was released shortly thereafter. They announced that detailed accounts of her “kidnapping” would be provided at a later time.
In the context of recent political turmoil in Venezuela, the term “kidnapping” has become synonymous with the government’s practice of detaining perceived adversaries unlawfully, further fueling a campaign of intimidation against anti-government demonstrators that emerged after the questionable election results. Later on Thursday, Machado updated her social media status to assure her supporters that she was in a “safe place” and more determined than ever to seek Maduro’s removal, adding that a person was shot when authorities apprehended her.
Efforts to confirm Machado’s statements were unsuccessful. She informed her supporters that she would elucidate the events from the day on Friday, as Maduro’s allies pushed back, labeling Machado’s detention as fictional and claiming opposition figures were attempting to incite a crisis.
“Nobody should be surprised,” said Communications Minister Freddy Nanez. “Especially since it’s coming from factions that have orchestrated this kind of deceit.”
Earlier that day, Machado rallied a crowd of supporters who responded to her call to demonstrate just one day prior to Maduro’s planned swearing-in for a third term, despite allegations that he had lost the election. “They wanted us to fight each other, but Venezuela is united, we are not afraid,” she declared from atop a truck before the reports of her detention began to circulate.
At 57 years old, Machado is recognized for her firmness as a former lawmaker and has persisted in standing against Maduro even as numerous opposition leaders fled into exile amidst escalating repression, joining the ranks of over 7.7 million Venezuelans who have left the country since 2013. Last year, government-affiliated judges barred her from participating in the election against Maduro. As a strategic maneuver, she endorsed an unknown outsider, Edmundo González, who reportedly defeated Maduro by a substantial margin, according to vote machine records that were gathered by the opposition and verified by international observers.
González, who claims the title of president-elect recognized by the United States and other countries, called for Machado’s prompt release. “To the security forces, I caution you: don’t play with fire,” he urged via social media from the Dominican Republic, where he met with President Luis Abinader and former Latin American leaders.
Former President Donald Trump also voiced support for Machado and González, emphasizing on Truth Social that “These freedom fighters should not be harmed, and MUST stay SAFE and ALIVE!”
Despite the call for protests, attendance was relatively low due to the heavy presence of riot police. Fear prevailed among citizens, many of whom had witnessed government forces detain opponents and innocent bystanders since the recent election.
“There’s obviously fewer people showing up,” commented empanada vendor Miguel Contreras, as National Guard members patrolled on motorcycles. “There’s fear.” Demonstrators managed to block a prominent street in an opposition stronghold, many dressed in the national colors of red, yellow, and blue as they rallied around Machado’s message, all denouncing Maduro and recognizing González as the legitimate president.
According to Javier Corrales, a Latin America expert at Amherst College, the deployment of security personnel and armed pro-government groups known as “colectivos” reveals Maduro’s underlying vulnerability. The government has arrested over 2,000 individuals since the elections, including several foreigners, who were accused of conspiring to undermine Maduro’s authority. Notable detentions this week involved a former presidential candidate, a renowned free speech advocate, and González’s son-in-law while he was escorting his young children to school.
“This shows impressive force but also indicates weakness,” explained Corrales, who co-authored an article recently published in the Journal of Democracy. He mentioned that while Maduro may appear secure in power, he and his allies are advancing a significant falsehood and are reliant on military backing to legitimize their actions.
The government-controlled National Electoral Council has declared Maduro the election winner; however, unlike past instances, they did not release voting records or precinct-specific results. Conversely, the opposition managed to gather tally sheets from 85% of electronic voting machines, suggesting that González overwhelmingly outperformed Maduro. Reports from independent observers, including the United Nations and the Atlanta-based Carter Center, have affirmed the authenticity of these opposition claims.
Both the U.S. and other nations have recognized González as the president-elect of Venezuela, with many of Maduro’s former allies in Latin America planning to skip the swearing-in ceremony for Maduro. This week, President Joe Biden met with González at the White House, commending him for inspiring hope among Venezuelans. “The people of Venezuela deserve a peaceful transfer of power to the true winner of their presidential election,” Biden remarked following their meeting.
